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Prostitutes Call for a Ban on GTA
Posted by
Zonk
on Wed Feb 15, 2006 03:45 PM
from the encouraging-better-customers dept.
from the encouraging-better-customers dept.
d writes "Gamespot has an article about an association of prostitutes protesting the GTA games. Apparently, the sex workers of the Sex Workers Outreach Project aren't too happy about their ingame counterparts being treated violently in the GTA games. They note that the games are a bad influence on children, and might encourage rape and violent behavior towards prostitutes in real life."
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Take Two Shareholders to sue over Hot Coffee 85 comments
casualsax3 writes "Take Two, the publisher of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, is facing more legal action over the game. Separately, two law firms have filed class-action lawsuits on behalf of shareholders who they say lost money due to the controversy about the game. This comes right on the heels of news that the
Sex Workers Outreach Program is
calling for a boycott of the game."
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Prostitutes Call for a Ban on GTA
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Prostitutes? (Score:5, Funny)
(http://www.dogthebountyhunter.com/)
Fuck them!
Re:Prostitutes? (Score:5, Funny)
(http://www.pacificnet.net/~joelinux)
Re:The new rallying cry... (Score:5, Interesting)
Won't someone please think of the prostitutes!
And, according to the blurb, won't someone please think of all those children who are allowed to play MATURE-ONLY games being taught to . . . disrespect prostitutes . . . whoa, that's kinky in some weird sense. So, we could conclude that the widespread use of GTA by minors is actually a planned conspiracy by the morally righteous to stop prostitution, while their (Thompson) tools decry the situation. And finally, the difference between good and evil is obvious to all.
(Well, it's not all that obvious to me, but Beyond Good & Evil was a really good game. :)
Re:Prostitutes? (Score:5, Insightful)
(http://www.explicame.org/)
That totally cracked me up. But seriously, people have got to lighten up. This is a GAME! Are SWAT unions protesting because they're the main target in CounterStrike? Is Germany demanding that the US stop selling Battlefield 2, because it depicts violence directed to German citizens? I would guess the answers would be "no", and "no".
Not to say that these games will ruffle some feathers (I read recently about some indians threatening to sue a game company because of its 1800's shooter), but they're not supposed to be representations of real life. Anyone stupid enough, or sick enough, to believe that and later try to do it in real life, ought to be locked up anyway.
Marcos
Re:Prostitutes? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Prostitutes? (Score:5, Insightful)
They should make a fighting game where all the characters are religious figures. So you can be Jesus and beat the crap out of Mohammed, or vice versa. Other characters would include Satan, Buddha, Mary, an Orthodox rabbi, Vishnu, God, Santa, the Easter Bunny and Cthulhu. You wouldn't even have to make a profit off the game to get filthy rich- you'd just invest in defense contractors and then when screenshots of Mohammed and Satan tag-teaming the Easter Bunny and Buddha start circulating around the world, World War III starts and your defense stocks go through the roof.
Re:Prostitutes? (Score:5, Funny)
(http://www.pcblues.com/)
Re:Prostitutes? (Score:4, Insightful)
Hitler represents the ultimate in human evil in popular culture (dunno if he really was, the competition is though for that position), just like the devil represents the ultimate in supernatural evil. As such Hitler definitely has religious significance. He's a kind of anti-saint, and has been nominated as a possible candidate for being the Beast of Revelation.
Point is, Hitler's become legendary. In reality, of course, he was just an evil and likely insane human who gained power and not "evil given human form" or something like that, but the man has long since been eclipsed by the legend.
Hitler was, for all intents and purposes, worshipped in Nazi Germany. Even now, long dead, he casts a shadow over modern-day Germany - and the whole word, really; it was largely the result of his actions that Europe lost the leadership of world to the US and that the state of Israel was born (which is one of the major reasons for conflicts between muslims and West). Moreover, the words "Hitler" and "Nazi" have the same echo as the words "Satan" and "demon", and the swastica evokes the same response as the pentagram.
Based on this, I have to consider Hitler a religious figure. Hitler and the Nazis have long since ceased having their most importance as real historical figures, and become symbols of evil instead.
Re:Prostitutes? (Score:5, Insightful)
(http://slashdot.org/)
Re:Prostitutes? (Score:5, Interesting)
Joke aside, not all prostitutes or prostitution environments are the same. GTA tends to portray the cliche streetwalker/drug addict/forced-into-by-pimp hookers. Brothels, escorts, call-girls, strippers, and porn actresses (including the amateur/web stuff) have different environments [findarticles.com] from this.
I'm surprised nobody has made the argument that the violence against hookers (the streetwalking/drug addict/pimp kind) in GTA might actually educate youngsters that hooking (SW/DA/pimp kind) can be dangerous and undesirable [prostitutionresearch.com], as opposed to "Pretty Woman" and similar portrayals which may cause more women to get into prostitution [prostitutionresearch.com].
Of course for that to happen it would have to be little girls that play GTA, which is the main demographic to play it, right? Guys? Hello? Why are you all looking at me funny?
Re:Prostitutes? (Score:5, Informative)
(http://www.chriseineke.com/ | Last Journal: Friday January 06 2006, @04:23PM)
Yes, I - too - think that's scary.
Re:Prostitutes? (Score:4, Interesting)
Justifying your vice. (Score:5, Funny)
(http://suso.suso.org/ | Last Journal: Tuesday March 09 2004, @12:03AM)
Dangerous argument (Score:4, Insightful)
(http://slashdot.org/ | Last Journal: Saturday November 03, @04:58AM)
*This depends on the country and the context. Somalia has no Government to speak of and therefore nobody to define such terms. With assassination considered a legitimate tool in the war on terror, the boundaries are getting fuzzy even when stable political systems exist.
Yes, this is relevant, as we are looking here at whether something is considered by a given country to be a serious crime or even a crime at all. If there are countries where prostitution is a serious crime and murder is acceptable, then do you look at their standards for so judging, or go by your own?
I'm not condoning or condemning anything here, I'm merely pointing out that it's never been clear-cut. What is "serious" is simply too subjective and varies far too much between individuals, never mind countries.
As far as sex workers are concerned, my only personal opinion is that there exists no way of identifying and assisting abuse victims who drift into the trade, those abused within it, modern slaves, anyone acting under duress for any other reason, etc. Nor is any serious effort made to deal with those involved in abuse, slavery, etc.
Changing laws that are highly emotionally charged is difficult and likely to be infrequent. So it is vitally important that if/when they are changed, they are changed in a way that provides the greatest benefit for the longest time. I am not convinced that lobbyists are the best ones to explain benefits and I'm not convinced that anyone else has identified the risks - present or future.
The status quo sucks (bad choice of words for this topic, but who cares?) but every alternative I've ever heard seems infinitely worse and far more prone to bring about the very problems that are supposed to be being cured, especially as the real problems seem to be largely being ignored.
Deal with the serious stuff first and then worry about the details. Otherwise it is just vote-trawling and people-pleasing.
Here's to calling the kettle black (Score:4, Funny)
Oh, wait.
Re:Here's to calling the kettle black (Score:5, Funny)
(http://breakplay.com/)
You're already selling yourself (Score:5, Funny)
Let's see, hookers sell a few hours of their time, perform questionable acts for money, and in the ideal situation, make you feel like you'r the most important part of their day. Tries to avoid virus and worm outbreaks with best practices.
System admin, sells all of his or her time, performs questionable acts for money. May try to make his customers happy. Tries to avoid virus and worm outbreaks with best practices. Demanding customers may make this difficult.
Consultant. See hooker.
All in all, a hooker has better pay scale, less hours, and a chance to negotiate a better working environment. Also less likely to be outsourced.
Re:You're already selling yourself (Score:5, Funny)
(http://www.acvox.com/)
Plus there's actually the occasional orgasm for a hooker. When was the last time you were able to come while adding a rule to your firewall?
Re:You're already selling yourself (Score:5, Funny)
Re:You're already selling yourself (Score:5, Funny)
You're obviously not using pf [openbsd.org]!
Re:Here's to calling the kettle black (Score:5, Insightful)
(http://paperlined.org/)
But still, if it comes down to consensual sex versus beating/killing people, I'd think that the sex would be less harmful to children.
Re:Here's to calling the kettle black (Score:5, Insightful)
(http://gumbercules.net/)
Re:Here's to calling the kettle black (Score:5, Insightful)
(http://gumbercules.net/)
Re:Here's to calling the kettle black (Score:4, Interesting)
(http://127.0.0.1/ | Last Journal: Monday May 09 2005, @04:20PM)
I'm guessing you've never heard of this sport called 'boxing' where two fully grown men attempt to beat the shit out of each other for money.
Life (as I learned it from GTA) (Score:5, Interesting)
(http://slashdot.org/~eldavojohn/ | Last Journal: Tuesday October 16, @03:26PM)
So now we're done
A. Kill her and take my monies back.
B. Keep her around in the car to do more money exchange.
The way I see it, the game is encouraging me not to harm her because if I do, I'm going to get my monies back but I have to drive all the way back into town and I do not want the po-po on me right now.
Btw, I learned all this like five years ago from this game. Where was this "sex workers group" when the game came out? They're a bit late to stop it from being released.
I like how from TFA: So let me get this straight
Re:Life (as I learned it from GTA) (Score:5, Insightful)
That sounds like the difference between European and American censorship. If think we (the EU) have it right on this one. In my ideal world we're all exposed to sex, rather than violence
Ban the parents then... (Score:5, Insightful)
(http://www.lbras.net/)
Re:Ban the parents then... (Score:5, Insightful)
Isn't it a bunch of prostitutes doing the protests? Don't you think they would have some experience with exploitation and violence?
Wait, isn't prostitution illegal? (Score:5, Funny)
Something about glass houses comes to mind here.
Re:Wait, isn't prostitution illegal? (Score:4, Informative)
(http://127.0.0.1/ | Last Journal: Monday May 09 2005, @04:20PM)
RTFA, not the headlines. (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Wait, isn't prostitution illegal? (Score:5, Insightful)
(http://www.jonaskaplan.com/ | Last Journal: Friday April 09 2004, @03:10AM)
In other words, I can pay a woman to have sex with me if she is an actor in my porn film. I just can't do it for my own private pleasure, I have to be making something for others to see. Bizarre.
Why haven't police done the same? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Why haven't police done the same? (Score:4, Interesting)
(http://xmoo.com/)
What can prostitutes in the game do besides maybe running away from the player? GTA should include prostitutes hitting the player violently with their handbags, or kicking the player in the nuts.
Re:Makes sense... (Score:4, Funny)
Oh, great. You had to bring the NORML folks into it...
They've got it backwards (Score:3, Funny)
(http://www.zembek.net/)
In other news... (Score:3, Funny)
(http://www.baytor.com/)
In related news, the Plate Glass Association of America (PGAA) is contemplating class action suits of their own, citing numerous examples of films, games & other media where violence is perpetrated on -- or more commonly through -- their members.
How's Jack going to react? (Score:5, Funny)
(http://www.pacificnet.net/~joelinux)
We should have a slogan:
"Jack Thompson: Working with the street-walkers to keep your kids safe"
"No-body has their pulse on the average American cum-catcher like Jack"
Re:Joke? (Score:5, Insightful)
No, it's not. And if you read their website, you'd see why it's not. For one thing, they have a goal for the decriminaliztion for the consensual sex industry, among other things (such as laws to help protect prostitutes). What more they outline their motives in a clear way, showing that through reform prostitutes can be helped rather than left to fend for themselves.
It's an intersting debate for where to draw the line between what laws are considered ethical. It's common for playing video games to be ethical, although sometimes they're content is not, but in the end they're legal. Murder is considered unethical, so it's illegal. Prostitiution is a strange one: prostitutes give their consent, so realistically they are not being harmed since they have the option of avoiding the situation if proper precautions are taken. Someone might argue that by consenting they are harming themselves, which is another matter all together, but you can say the same for tobacco.
Their members have a different set of morals, and believe that their freedoms as citizens are being restricted by the morals of others. You don't have to agree with them, but at least they're being logical about it.
Although I do see the humor in the irony in trying to get parents who probably view them as the lowest human lifeform to join their cause against the game. That's just silly.
I an just see the trials on CourtTV now (Score:5, Funny)
Attorney: "Are you a prostitute?"
Whore: "Yes, I am"
CNN's Anderson Cooper: "And in today's news, the 1000th prostitute was thrown in jail for admitting they were in the illegal sex trade. Thousands more are lining up around the block to give their testimony to the supreme court...."
Title of this article is misleading (Score:5, Informative)
Ban means "to prohibit especially by legal means" (Merriam-Webster [m-w.com]).
They're exercising a free speech right, not trying to infringe on others'.
Disappointed with Link... (Score:5, Funny)
Of all the claims... (Score:5, Insightful)
(http://teasphere.wordpress.com/)
I know it all seems silly, prostitutes complaining and drawing parallels from a video game to real violence. But in reality prostitues are pretty much an accepted thing in America (even though many would have you believe otherwise) and after reading a book a while back about the Mustang Ranch in Vegas, I have a whole new outlook on them and their trade. The knee jerk reaction is to laugh it off, but I truly believe this compalint is the most valid yet.
Johns (Score:3, Insightful)
Personally, I can't stand people who put down sex trade workers, but don't save any derrision for the Johns. If you think prostitutes are low-lifes, then quit paying them.
Strange bedfellows (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Strange bedfellows (Score:5, Funny)
(http://infaux.net/ | Last Journal: Thursday September 01 2005, @02:08PM)
Yes, we have everyone from all walks of life protesting GTA. All the good & bad people(depending on your perspective) are putting aside their differences to stop GTA. GTA is helping unite the world. Pimps will stop slapping their hoes, drug dealers will stop killing deadbeat buyers and Hatians will stop, um, whatever Hatians do for a moment to protest a freakin' video game.
Before GTA, wow, we were so blind to the social problems in the world. We only needed a video game to finally reflect it!
show me (Score:3, Informative)
So where's the "Kill rape and murder all the hookers" mission?
In other news... (Score:4, Funny)
Own Goal (Score:4, Insightful)
(http://darkcyclone0.tripod.com/snyktn.html | Last Journal: Thursday August 03 2006, @02:55PM)
The reason why so many people have a problem with GTA is because it treats sex with prostitutes as both no big deal and as generally beneficial. Which would tend to make people see it as something that shouldn't be illegal. Hence lies (about rape) and exaggerations (you get points for killing prostitutes, while killing a prostitute in GTA may be beneficial it also carries in game risks which may make it detrimental).
But the goal of NIMF isn't, for example, to make prostitutes the one class of person in the game who are invulnerable, it is to remove them from the game completely. Removing the ability to portray prostitutes in a game removes the ability to portray them positively.
This is actually very sad, because I imagine the guys at Rockstar North are in favor of decriminalization and also against the murder or maltreatment of prostitutes, so their opinion would be inline with SWOP-USA. (I come to this conclusion from the political content of the game, the hypocracy of right wing congressman Shrub and his mistress porn star Candy Suxxx for example.)
Criminals are not happy either. (Score:3, Funny)
(http://www.truepunk.com/ | Last Journal: Friday October 14 2005, @03:35PM)
How about a trade-in program? (Score:3, Funny)
Except it will be "GTA for BJs".
In Soul Reaver..... (Score:3, Insightful)
(http://nutsncents.blogspot.com/ | Last Journal: Friday August 08 2003, @07:47PM)
An evil god raises you from the dead to wipe the earth clean. Does this teach children something they shouldn't be learning?
Or in other news, movies about drug dealing often glorify (and rightly so) the lives of drug dealers, because they often have exciting lives. Does this teach children something they shouldn't be learning?
Even worse, watching politicians on TV lie about corruption, sex, drugs, drinking and influence teaches children how to use a silver tongue. Does this teach them something they shouldn't be learning?
Lack of information, lack of exposure, lack of knowledge never saved anyone. Ignorance is never bliss; and the only way you can confront hatred, violence, and deception is head on. "Saving" your children from these things only ensures that when they encounter them in 'the real world' they'll get hoodwinked, abused, or assaulted. Better to teach them, than to let them learn themselves.
This doesn't necessarily mean you should hand your kids GTA and tell 'em to go at it. But perhaps you should sit down and play it with them(assuming they have reached the age of reason (determining this is left as an exercise to the reader)), and stress that its a fun game, but its _fantasy_, and _dark_ fantasy at that. Parenting 101.
*shrug*. Or maybe your supposed to keep your kids in a pink room till they reached the age of 18, and then let them into the world, with no knowledge at all, with the sound assurance that all your prayer from 0-18 will encourage God to watch over them in their ignorance.....
*shrug*.
Re:Heh (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Heh (Score:4, Insightful)
(http://www.bazzalisk.purplecloud.net/)
Are quite hard to find.
Re:Sex Workers... (Score:3, Informative)
(http://www.ods.org/)
Re:Heh (Score:4, Insightful)
I'd be more suspicious of people who base their morality on hocus-pocus religious mythology.
There's nothing immoral about a consentual agreement between adults.
Re:Prostitutes.... not a lower form of life (Score:3, Insightful)
They're just people like the rest of us who've chosen a particular profession.
It is even more sobering to consider that many prostitutes are simply trying to pay the bills and have no way out. Many prostitutes, if not all, don't like their "service", but they do it because it's a way to make money.